Paph with an air root???

[Yazz]

Bought a small paph sanderiaum for a great price a couple weeks ago. When I repotted her, there was this errant root that refused to be potted properly. I kept trying to stick it down into the medium, but noooo, it goes where it wants...



It's getting bigger now and has me a bit concerned.

Is this normal?

[DweamGoiL]

hahaha...that's not an air root just a stubborn root. If you soak the plant for a bit to make the root more pliable and use a twisty tie to secure it, it will head down into the medium. The trick is to moisten and soften it enough to be able to bend it the way you want without breaking it.

Paphs do get air roots but they don't look like that. They are usually greenish and don't grow as much as a root that buries itself. Not all Paphs get these, but over the years, I have seen a few that do:



This root is on a Russ Palmer and the whole plant looks like this:



The air root is probably like 2 inches long and it's been like that since I got it about 2 years ago. They also tend to be curlier and more bark like than the other roots.

[Yazz]

Thanks for the help! Wrapped the errant root in a wet paper towel and let soak for an hour. Afterwards, the root closest to the plant was very pliable.

Dug a hole in the medium in the shape of the root, with a downward slope. Root went in and covered it up with wet medium. There wasn't anything to anchor the root to, so hoping it doesn't pop up again. If it does, I have a drill and know how to make holes. LOL

Now I know that paphs can have air roots (on occasion.)

Oh my, even without flowers, your Russ Palmer is beautiful! Can't wait for some of my babies to look like that...